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Visible Church has never been a stable entity. It is a living organism that is
changing all the time like the human body. But every time change takes place
it comes with a huge shakeup. Just consider what happened in the Reformation
and the earlier Pentecostal Revivals. Now a new shakeup is coming that will
strike the core of the foundations.
Why is this?
Because God is about to unveil His end time Apostles and
bring change to the structures of the church.
Here are some of the changes that are going to take place.
Less emphasis on Gathering
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Less emphasis on Place of Worship
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Less emphasis on Tithing
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Less emphasis on Race and Culture
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Less emphasis on Doctrine and Statements of Faith
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Less emphasis on Titles
Emphasis on Gathering
Probably one of the most preached verses is the one in
Hebrews that says
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much
the more, as you see the day approaching.
One would think that Jesus had given this as the first and
greatest commandment, the way some pastors present it. But it is only one
verse in the New Testament and not one that is given prime consideration
either. No! There is something far more important than the assembling of the
saints. Do you know what it is?
The Scattering of the Saints!
When Jesus gathered His disciples together just before He
ascended He commanded them to 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.'
Sure He also told them to gather in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father,
but that was only until the Holy Spirit had come. Then they were to go out and
spread the good news throughout the earth. But what did they do? They sat in
Jerusalem and had a convention. So the Lord had to permit a man by the Name of
Saul of Tarsus to come and shatter their little tower of Babel, and cause them
to be scattered all over the earth.
Emphasis on Place of Worship
I was startled to read in a recent magazine publication
that someone had depicted the church of the future as being a huge edifice
holding thousands of people. The Visible Church is still so wrapped up in its
emphasis on its place of worship, that the coming move of God which will
obviously lead to a great ingathering has led them to think that they will
need larger buildings.
What nonsense!
The early church met mostly in homes, and this will once
again become the emphasis as the church grows so fast and spreads so wide,
that no building will be large enough to house everyone. The trouble is
we are so used to doing things the wrong way, that we cannot conceive of doing
it God's way.
Emphasis on Tithing
It is impossible to do anything in this world without
money. But when your vision becomes one of building your own empire, this need
is highly amplified.
When God provided for His people as they left Egypt, He did
it by plundering the Egyptians. But today church leaders seem to think that it
must be done by plundering their congregations. To make sure that the people
respond right it becomes necessary to impose Old Testament law on them and
beat them into submission in fear, by preaching that they are obligated to pay
their tithes. This is going to change in the new church for several good
reasons.
There will not be a need for as much money for
unnecessary things such as huge edifices.
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People will return to the Biblical Pattern of walking
in covenant with God and with each other, and they will learn once again
to be like the early church, who gave all they had in love to one another.
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People will learn to give from a heart of love rather than out of fear
of punishment.
Emphasis on Race and Culture
Every nation and culture have been molded by a specific
archetype that causes them to think in a certain way. While this mindset
exists in people, it is impossible for the division caused by these things to
be dealt with. The church has failed miserably in this area, because they
have tried to approach it in the same way as the politicians. You cannot
enforce or forcibly remove something that has been bred into people. Nor can
you preach against racism and stamp it out with guilt.
It comes only when the unity of the Spirit of God in
believers, and the flow of God's love brings us to a place where we forget
about our national and cultural heritages and see only Jesus. Then only
can we truly become brothers and sisters in Christ. And then only will these
things fall away so naturally that we will forget they ever existed. But
trying to bring change in this is like trying to take the darkness out of a
room to cause it to light up. It just will not work.
Just shine the light and the darkness flees. Just shine the
love and the bitterness and hatred flees. Just shine the life, and death must
vanish.
Emphasis on Doctrine and Statements of Faith
Isn't it amazing how folks who are supposed to love one
another in Christ are ready to kill over doctrinal differences. This is all
going to change as God breaks down the barriers that exist between believers
because of doctrinal differences. How often a group will accept someone who
accepts their doctrine without realizing they are opening themselves to
someone who might bring a demonic influence into their midst.
When this practice stops there will be less suspicion
amongst believers, and less need to state clearly what we believe. But there
will come instead a spiritual discernment that will quickly expose the
deceivers and bring unity amongst those who truly love the Lord, in spite of
differing views on doctrine.
Emphasis on Titles
Since when did the Lord instruct leaders in the church to
take the title of Pastor? In actual fact He did the complete opposite.
Matthew 23:8 But do not be called Rabbi: for one is
your Master, [namely] Christ; and you are all brothers.
9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, who
is in heaven.
10 Neither be called (pastors) masters: for one is your (Pastor)
Master, [namely] Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
The new church will not have leaders who insist on being
called by their title. Nor will the pastor be the chief leader in the church.
But the church will be led by its true Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, and those
who fill the place of under shepherds will simply be His representatives in
the Body of Christ, in plurality, the way it was from the beginning.
